Rules + Nominations FAQ

Rules

The Austin Under 40 Awards nominations process is a rigorous one. This is where the Austin Under 40 Awards is distinguished from any other awards ceremony in the region. There are many business and industry awards that exist, but for the past 20 years, the Austin Under 40 Awards has distinguished itself as an event that celebrates not only our young industry leaders, but also those leaders who dedicate themselves to the improvement and stewardship of our community. Each year, nominees represent not only the young leaders who are having a tremendous positive impact in their respective industries, but who also go beyond the call of duty by volunteering their personal time to give back to the community.

Over 50 business and community leaders serve as judges for the Austin Under 40 Awards. Each nominee’s application and supporting materials will be scored in two separate judging rounds, not only on their leadership in their industry, but also on their leadership and impact in the greater Austin community. Each nominee is scored by multiple judges in the first round of judging and 5 finalists in each of the 16 awards categories will be selected. The second round of judging is completed by the winners-selection committee, which selects the award winners who will be announced at the Austin Under 40 Awards gala.

Nomination FAQs

Who can be nominated?
Nominations may be made for any community leader under the age of 40 at the time of the award ceremony (May 19th, 2018). The exception is the Mentor of the Year awards category, where nominees should be over the age of 40. Upon being nominated the nominee will receive a link to complete their application.

Who cannot be nominated?
Board members and/or committee chairs must be one (1) year removed from their seated positions within the Young Women’s Alliance or the Young Men’s Business League. For the purpose of clarity, past board members and committee chairs from 2014-2015 are now eligible.

Can I be nominated in more than one category?
Yes. However, nominees can only be judged in one category which will be chosen by the nominee at the time of application.

Can I be nominated if I have been nominated in years past, or if I have been a finalist in years past?
Yes. Past finalists and nominees may be nominated again. However, past winners are not eligible for an Austin Under 40 Award.

Does being nominated multiple times in one award year help my chances of winning?
No. The number of nominations for an individual is not considered in selecting the winners. The judges will only consider one nomination per nominee.

When is the deadline to submit a nomination?
Nominations must be submitted by December 31st, 2017 at 11:59 p.m.

Now that I’ve been nominated, when is the deadline to submit my application?
Applications must be submitted by January 5th, 2018 at 11:59 p.m.

I was told I was nominated but never received an email.

If you were told you were nominated but never received an email notifying you of your nomination, double check your spam folder. The email will come from support {at} reviewr {dot} com, to help you with your email search. If you still do not find the email, please contact nomination {at} austinunder40 {dot} org.

If I have been nominated, can I also submit a nomination for someone else?
Yes. Nominations are open to the general public, and there is no limit on the number of nominations anyone can submit.

How are applications scored? What is the judging criteria?
Each application is scored by multiple judges using a rubric that weighs all application materials 60% for community involvement and 40% for career achievement.

When will finalists be announced?
Finalists will be announced on March 2nd, 2018.

When will winners be announced?
Winners will be announced at the Austin Under 40 Awards gala.